6th Annual 42 Below Cocktail World Cup

The Regional Competition for the 6th annual 42 Below Cocktail World Cup was held at BOND in Boston in February.  The winners were Sensing’s Jason Brown, left, for his Mr. Robinson, and Aquitaine’s Matthew Coughlin, right, of for his Rosemary Sour.  In addition to Boston, there were contests held in twelve other major cities across the country.  The top two finalists from each market moved on to compete at the national finals held in New York.  Three US finalists were chosen to represent the United States in the New Zealand competition.
In total, ten countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, China, Australia, Ireland, Germany, France and Italy, will hold contests at regional and national levels in which bartenders compete to create the most innovative cocktail as judged by leaders in the cocktail industry.  The top three bartenders selected become that country’s national team in the Cocktail World Cup Finals in New Zealand, to be held March 23 through 28.  Once in New Zealand, the challenges take on a whole new level of intensity.  Contestants will Bungee jump and ride in shotover jet boats while making cocktails among other unique activities to clinch this prestigious prize.